Auxiliary starter-control device



W. LAWRENCE.

AUXILIARY STARTER CONTROL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28. 1921.

1,397,690, PatentedNOV.22,1921.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LAWRENCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUXILIARY STARTER-CONTROL DEVICE.

Application filed February 28, 1921.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of IlllIlOlS, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Auxiliary Starter-Control Device; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an auxiliary starter control device and particularly to a device which is adapted to be used in connection with starting motors such as are used on motor vehicles at the present time. These starting motors are used to start internal combustion engines which propel motor vehicles and are ordinarily driven by electric current which is supplied by a storage battery mounted on the vehicle. It is a Wellknown fact that large quantities of electrical energy are required to start the electric motor to effect an initial rotation of the engine. The amount of current required of course decreases as soon as the rotation of the engine is begun and it is apparent that much of the electrical energy consumed could be saved if the initial rotation of the engine were manually aided. This has. been accomplished heretofore by one person operating the starting crank. at the front of the vehicle while another depresses the starter switch pedal from the drivers position. The

effecting of this method, however, requires two persons and is consequently impractical when only the driver of the vehicle is present. It is therefore desirable that an arrangement be provided which will enable the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22,1921.

Serial No. 448,506.

provide a pivotally mounted device for actuating a starter control, and means for operating said pivotally mounted device from a distance.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an auxiliary starter control actuatlng device which is adjustable for use with starter control pedals of different heights.

It is an important object of this invention to provide means whereby automatic and manual motor starting devices may be simultaneously operated by one person.

Other and further important objects of this invention will .be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

The invention in a preferred form is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a motor vehicle. chassis showing the auxiliary starter control device of this invention installed thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 2-2 of Fi 1, showing the auxiliary starter control gev'ce in position for use.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the device.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 3. 1 I

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates the front portion of a motor vehicle chassis in which an internal combustion engine 2 is mounted. In order to start said internal combustion engine" it is necessary that the crank shaft thereof be initially rotated from an outside source, and for effecting this rotation an electrically actuated starting motor 3 is ordinarily provided. This rotation may also be effected by a starting crank 4: which is ordinarily connected to the front end ofthe engine crank shaft by a suitable clutch connection and which extends outwardly in front of a radiator 5 which is normally mounted on the front end of the chassis l.

The electric starting motor 3 is put in operation by connecting the same with a suitable source of electrical energy such as a storage battery and this connection is ordi narily eflt'ected through a switch (not shown) which is actuated by a pedal 6 extending through a floor board 7 mounted on the chassis 1 in rear of a dash board 8 and the engine 2. Said pedal 6 is ordinarily depressed by the foot of the operator of the vehicle when it is desired to start the engine 2, and this invention provides means whereby said pedal may be depressed by the operator when standing in front of the radiator in order that the crank 4 may be utilized to aid the electric motor 3 in turning over the engine.

The device comprises a block 9 which is secured to the floor board 7 by screws 10 or other suitable means and connected to said block 9 by a hinge connection 11 is a plate 12, which is provided with a downwardly extending apertured internal flange 13, and which engages the head 14 of the pedal 6. Connected in the aperture in the flange 13 is a flexible cord or wire 15' which extends downwardly through an aperture 16 in the 4 floor board 7 and forwardly along the side of the engine'2 inside the chassis 1, whence it extends through an aperture in the frame of the radiator 5 and outwardly to a position adjacent the crank 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. In order that said outwardly extending 'end of the wire 15 maybe conveniently grasped by the operator, a loop 17 is ordinarily formed therein.

On account of the varying heights of the pedals 6 above the floor board 7 in different makes of vehicles, it is often desirable to provide an arrangement whereby the plate 12 and the hinge connection therefor maybe elevated from or depressed toward said floor board as may be required. The arrangement provided by this invention for accomplishing the adjustment of the height of said plate 12 and the hinge connection is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and, as sliown in said figures, the plate 9 is replaced by a plate 18 which issecured to the floor board by means of screws 19 and which is provided with a pair of integral upwardly extending lugs 20, at one end thereof. Said lugs 20 are provided with oppositely positioned central apertures and pivoted on a shaft or bolt 21 extending through said apertures is a channel link 22 which is provided at its outer end with oppositely positioned apertures through which a shaft 23 affording a pivotal or hinge connection for t e plate 12 extends. Said shafts or bolts 21 and 23 are respectively secured in position by means of heads 24 and 25 and cotter pins 26 and 27.

As shown in Fig. 3, the lugs 20 are provided with a plurality of oppositely positioned apertures 28 and a pm 29 engaged through a pair of said apertures and through oppositely positioned. apertures in the upstanding portions of the link-22 is adapted to secure said link in position at the desired adjusted height.

The operation of the device of this invention will be evident from the foregoing description. When it is desired to start the engine 2 the operator may grasp the loop 17 on the wire 15 and pull said wire outwardly, thus moving the plate 12 about its pivotal or hinged connection and depressing the pedal 6, whereby the starting motor 3 is connected with a source of electrical energy. The operator may at the same time grasp the starting crank 4 with the other hand and rotate the same to aid the electric motor in starting rotation of the crank shaft of the engine. By this aiding the electric motor *with the. crank a great saving in electrical energy is effected and it is possible to start the engine easily even in cases where the storage battery is nearly exhausted.

It is thus apparent that this invention provides a convenient arrangement whereby auuse the plate 12 maybe folded back out of the way or may be' left on the pedal where it may be engaged by the foot of the operator in the usualmanner, whereupon the full pressure of the operators foot'is applied to the pedal.

I am aware that numerous details of con struction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: 1

1. In a motor vehicle the combination with an' internal combustion engine, of manually operated means for rotating said engine mounted at one-'endlthereof, power operated means for rotating the engine, means for controlling said power operated means from the end of the engine opposite the manually operated means, and an auxiliary mechanism for actuating said controlling means from the same end of the engine as the manually operated means.

2. In a motor vehicle the combination with an internal combustion engine, of manaually operated means for rotating said engine mounted at one end thereof, power operated means for rotating the engine, means for controlling the power operated means from "the end of the engine opposite the manually operated means, and a p1vot-- ally mounted auxil ary mechanism for actuating said controlling means from the same end of the engine as the manually operated means.

3. In a motor vehicle the combination with an internal combustion engine, of manually operated means for rotating said engine mounted at one end thereof, power operated means for rotating the engine, means for controlling said power operated means from the end of the engine opposite the manually operated means, auxiliary mechanism for actuating said controlling means from the same end of the engine as the manually operated means, and means for adjusting the auxiliary mechanism for various controlling means.

I. In a motor vehicle having separate manual and automatic motor starting means, means for controlling the automatic starting means located in a position which is inaccessible from the manual starting means, and an auxiliary mechanism for operating said controlling means from a position which is accessible from the manual starting means.

5. In a motor vehicle the combination with a starter control pedal, of pivotally mounted means for depressing the same, and a connection from said pivotally mounted means to the front of the motor vehicle.

6. A starter pedal control device comprising fixed means, a plate hinged on said fixed means and adapted to contact the top of the starter pedal, and a flexible connection secured to the outer end of said plate and adapted to be operated to pull said plate downwardly and depress the pedal.

7. A starter pedal control device comprising fixed means, a link pivotally mounted thereon, a plate pivotally mounted in the outer end of the link and engaging the top of the starter pedal, a flexible connection in the outer end of said plate, and means for securing the link in a plurality of angular positions relative to said fixed means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM LAWRENCE.

Witnesses:

CARLTON HILL, JAMES M. OBRmN. 

